The county was named in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. The county seat is Monticello. 

When the colony that is now New York State established its first twelve counties in 1683, the present Sullivan County was part of Ulster County. In 1809, Sullivan County was split from Ulster County.

In the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution and the advent of factories driven by water power along the streams and rivers led to an increase in population attracted to the jobs. Hamlets enlarged into towns. As industry restructured, many of those jobs left before the middle of the twentieth century.

The county is probably best known as the site of dozens of “Borscht Belt” hotels and resorts,which were established by European Jewish immigrants and operated by their descendants. They had their heyday from the 1920s through the 1970s. Many of show businesses most famous entertainers of the day got their start working in these hotels.

 The economy changed again after that, shifting to a more tourist and recreation based variety. The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel is located on site of the famed 1969 Woodstock Music Festival and is home to a performing arts center and museum. 

 On that southern border, Barryville is named for William T. Barry, postmaster general under President Andrew Jackson. The community grew up around the Delaware & Hudson Canal, which opened in 1828 and operated until 1898. The canal ran through what is today the center of the hamlet, and the canal company operated a number of stores, an office and a dry dock there.

The Upper Delaware River, today a unit of the National Park system, then also served as the conduit for timber cut in the area and rafted to Philadelphia for use in the ship building industry. In 1899, John Willard Johnston, lawyer, historian, and the town of Highland’s first supervisor, wrote a first-hand, biting local history of the canal period, titled “Remiscences.”  

Eldred, named for the hamlet’s first settler Charles Eldred, is at the town’s center and is seat of town government. Two other hamlets include Highland Lake at the northeast and Yulan (Chinese for laurel) to the west.  Early settlers here earned their living by farming and from harvesting the abundant timber.  Late in the 19^th Century, the nearby Erie Railroad brought vacation visitors and the creation of the boarding house industry, which has since evolved into recreation, camping, and second homes.

The town has a total area of 90.0 square miles of which, 85.4 square miles are land and 4.6 square miles are water surface. One of the Bethel’s most attractive features is its access to numerous lakes, all within a five-minute drive of each other. They include White Lake (the northern portion of which is known as Kauneonga Lake), Silver Lake, and Lake Superior, which is part of a county managed, state park with the same name.

The first settlers arrived around 1795 near the present communities of Bethel and White Lake. The Town of Bethel was established in 1809, subdivided from the Town of Lumberland. Bethel remains primarily rural and agricultural in character.

By the middle of the 19th century, a tourist industry began to grow. Bethel was home to numerous "Borscht Belt" and numerous sleep away camps for most of the 20th century. Although some bungalow colonies continue to exist, catering to a largely Orthodox Jewish clientele during the summer, most of the old resorts closed by the 1970s.

The town’s communities include the hamlet of Bethel, located centrally on state Route 17B;Black Lake in the south on SR 55; Briscoe in the north on County Road 144; Bushville in the northeast corner on CR 75; Kauneonga Lake, formerly North White Lake, located at the junction of CR 141 and SR55; Mongaup Valley,located east of White Lake on SR 17B is the home of county owned, Sullivan County International Airport; Smallwood, founded as sprawling vacation community south of SR 17B and north of SR 55, was renamed from Mountain Lake in honor of founder A.N. Smallwood; Swan Lake, a hamlet located at the intersection of SR 55 and CR 74, north of White Lake, on SR 17B, which is Bethel’s largest community, center of town government, and home of the Dugan Elementary School of the Monticello Central School District. 

 The population was 1,515 at the 2010 census.

The town was created by the state legislature in 1853 by a subdivision of the older town of Lumberland. The first settlement in area was during the mid-18^th Century at Ten Mile River, but it was abandoned during the French and Indian War. The Ten Mile River Church and Tusten Stone Arch Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Following the 18^th Century wars, Benjamin Homans was is credited as the first settler, setting himself up by Narrowsburg, which today is the seat of town government.

According to the US Census, the town has a total area of 48.8 square miles, of which, 47.3 square miles is land and 1.5 square miles is water surface.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,415 people, 583 households, and 367 families residing in the town. The population density was 29.9 people per square mile. There were 1,008 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 89.12% White, 6.93% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.92% Asian,1.13% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.60% of the population.

The 16.3% population increase in 1980 census, was the town’s largest decade of growth since an 18% increase in the 1870 census. Still the population has remained remarkably stable, as overall difference over 110 years was only 396 persons, less than 39%.

There were 583 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present,and 37.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,824, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $35,125 versus $25,938 for females. The per-capita income for the town was $19,413. About 6.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communitiesand locations in Tusten

• Narrowsburg – A hamlet by the Delaware River. It was formerly called Homans Eddy and Big Eddy.
• Beaver Brook Corners (or Beaver Brook) – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
• Feagles Lake – A small lake east of Narrowsburg.
• Hunts Corners – A hamlet east of Narrowsburg on Route 52.
• Lava – A hamlet east of Narrowsburg on Route 52.
• Luxton Lake – A lake community east of Narrowsburg on Route 97
• Neweiden – A hamlet southeast of Narrowsburg on the Ten Mile River, formerly called Swamp Mills.
• Smith Switch – A location in the northwest corner of the town by the Delaware River and on Route 97.
• Ten Mile River – A small river and the site of a large summer camp maintained by the Boy Scouts of America, located near Neweiden.
• Tusten – The hamlet of historic Tusten in the southwest part of the town on Route 97.

Fallsburg takes its name from the waterfalls of the Neversink River and was established in 1826, from a subdivision of the towns ofLiberty, Neversink and Mamakating. The town is in the heart of a once popular predominately Jewish summer resort area known as the Catskills Borscht Belt.

The eastern town line is the border of Ulster County. It is also bordered by the towns of Thompson, Neversink, and Liberty.

Several parks and golf courses are located in the area,including Tarry Brae, Lochmor, Pines, Morningside Park and Mountaindale Park.

The town is known for its many small lakes, ponds, wooded areas, and former dairy farms.

Major bodies of water in the Town of Fallsburg include: Loch Sheldrake, also known as Sheldrake Pond, Echo Lake, Evans Lake, Morningside Lake, Pleasure Lake, East Pond, and the Neversink River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 79.0 square miles (205 km2), of which, 77.6 square miles of it island and 1.4 square miles of it (1.73%) is water surface.

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,234 people, 3,761 households, and 2,478 families residing in the town. The population density was 157.6 people per square mile. There were 6,661 housing units at an average density of 85.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 75.19%White, 15.56% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 5.04% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.53% of the population.

There were 3,761 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1%were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64,and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 133.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,036,and the median income for a family was $39,216. Males had a median income of$31,949 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was$16,744. About 15.9% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65or over.

Fallsburg celebrates Francis Currey Day each year in honor of Francis S. Currey and other military veterans. Currey received a Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II.

The Living Torah Museum, an Orthodox Jewish museum, has a branch of the museum in Fallsburg. 

An international retreat center Shree Muktananda Ashram is located in Fallsburg. The center provides a location for students of Siddha Yoga to practice the daily practices of sadhana.[14]

The Fallsburg Central School District serves the town of Fallsburg. The district is the "Home of the Comets". Schools in the district include Benjamin Cosor Elementary School and Fallsburg Junior Senior High School.

Two colleges in the area serve Fallsburg. Sullivan County Community College is located in Loch Sheldrake and  Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe is a private rabbinical college located in South Fallsburg.[19][20]

Stagedoor Manor is a performing arts summer camp located in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Each summer Stagedoor Manor holds three three-week-long sessions that start in late June and end in August.

The Fallsburg Library serves the town and is located in South Fallsburg. It has been in operation since 1991.

Two correctional facilities are located in the area and operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. Woodbourne Correctional Facility, a medium security men's prison and Sullivan Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison for male inmates .

Communities:

Divine Corners – A location north of Loch Sheldrake onCounty Road 105. 

Fallsburgh – The hamlet of Fallsburgh, formerly known as"Neversink Falls" or "Old Falls," or just plain"Fallsburg", is on Route 42.

Glen Wild – A hamlet by the south town line on CountyRoad  58.

Hasbrouck – A small hamlet, north of Loch Sheldrake on Hasbrouck Road.

Hurleyville – A hamlet formerly called "Luzon Station”on CR 107.

Loch Sheldrake – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 52.

Mountaindale – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on CR 54, formerly called "Sandburg."

South Fallsburg – A hamlet on SR 42 by the western townline.

Woodridge – The Village of Woodridge. Formerly known as"Centreville."

Woodbourne – A hamlet on Route 52 and north of Fallsburghamlet.

History

Then in Ulster County, the town was formed in 1798 from the Town of Mamakating, and was subsequently reduced to form the towns of Thompson (1803), Liberty (1807) and Bethel (1809). The town was partitioned again in 1853 into three parts, creating, Highland, Tusten and current Lumberland.

Lumberland in its current form began to blossom when the Delaware and Hudson Canal opened in 1828. The canal helped transport Anthracite coal from the mines of northeastern Pennsylvania to the burgeoning markets of major cities. Settlements that popped up along the canal included Pond Eddy, Knights Eddy, Handsome Eddy, and Mongaup. When the canal was phased out due to the advent of railroads on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, its bed was converted into the current New York State Route 97 in the 1930s.

The 1904 Pond Eddy interstate bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and is currently (2016) due for replacement and demolition.

Location

The southwest town line is the Delaware River and the border of Pennsylvania. The east town line is the border of Orange County, New York. The north is bordered by the town of Forestburgh, and the west by the town of Highland.

The area has maintained its rural characteristics, being largely residential, with minimal commerce. There is one gas station in Glen Spey, and there are no traffic lights in Lumberland.

Lumberland is located within the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Elevations range from approximately 600 feet near the Delaware River to over 1,300 feet above sea level on the bluffs overlooking the Delaware, and where the Catskill Mountains begin to rise in the northern reaches of the town. The terrain is largely mountainous and wooded, with the majority of residents settling close to or on main roads, such as New York State Route 97 (Upper Delaware Scenic Byway).

Rivers and streams abound in Lumberland. The Delaware River is widely accessible through rafting companies that do day trips and that have campsites dotted along the river. The Mill Brook runs north-south from the Black Forest Colony, through Pond Eddy hollow, to the Delaware at the Mill Brook Inn. Fish Cabin Brook takes a similar course just to the east. The Mongaup River runs from Rio Reservoir southward into the Delaware at the Orange County line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.6 square miles, of which, 47.0 square miles of it is land and 2.6 square miles of it (5.30%) is water surface.

Population

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,939 people, 781 households, and 538 families residing in the town. The population density was 41.2 people per square mile. There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 30.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.75% White, 0.21% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.

History

By a vote of the residents, the town was formed from part of the Town of Callicoon in 1851. When the town was first settled, around 1780,the absence of roads restrained growth, since the Delaware River provided the only means of entry. The town was known for its lumber and tannery industries in the 19^th Century.

Geography and climate

The northwest town line is the border of Delaware County,New York, and the southwest town line is the border of Pennsylvania (Wayne County), marked by the Delaware River.

The climate of the town is typical of the interior northeast. Made up of hills of about 2,000 ft. in elevation and valleys under 1,000 ft. The majority of the town is forested with open fields scattered about.

The weather in the summer is cool with temperatures rarely reaching 90 and averaging in the 70's in the day and around 60 at night. In the spring and fall temperatures are very inconsistent with warm days in the 70'sand cold days with snow. The winters can be very cold, with average high's below freezing for most of the winter and nighttime temperatures often dropping to near 0. The average snowfall is upwards of 6 feet per year, with snow cover over the majority of the winter.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.2 square miles, of which, 50.3 square miles is land and 0.9 square miles is water surface.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,391 people, 563 households, and 394 families residing in the town. The population density was 27.6 people per square mile. There were 1,182 housing units at an average density of 23.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 94.75% White, 1.58%African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.79% from other races,and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

Of the 563 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 27.0%of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town the population includes 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,125,and the median income for a family was $40,938. Males had a median income of$29,338 versus $27,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was$18,087. About 13.2% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities andlocations in Fremont

Acidalia – A hamlet by the northwest town line.

Basket – A hamlet in the western part of the town, east of Long Eddy.

Buck Brook – A location in the east part of the town.

Fernwood – A hamlet in the western part of the town near the north town line.

Fremont Center – A hamlet west of the town center on Routes 93,94, and 95.

Hankins – A hamlet believed to be the site of the first settlement. Hankins is located near the Delaware River in the western part of the town on Route 97. Located at Hankins and listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Hankins District No. One Schoolhouse, Hankins Stone Arch Bridge, and Anthony Manny House.

Lakewood – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.

Long Eddy – A hamlet in the extreme western part of the town by the Delaware River. The Riverside Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Mileses – A hamlet in the western part of the town, west of Fremont Center.

Obernburg – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town along Route 95. Home of St. Mary's Church, the oldest church in the county. Also, named after Obernburg, Germany.

Pleasant Valley – A hamlet in the south part of the town.

Tennanah Lake (formerly Long Pond) – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town by a lake called "Tennanah Lake."

The Town of Cochecton (its official name) is situated on the Delaware River, directly across from Damascus, Pennsylvania, to which a bridge over the river provides access. The village of Cochecton has a ZIP code of 12726; the ZIP codes for two other communities located within the town's boundaries —Cochecton Center and Lake Huntington — are 12727 and 12752 respectively.

History

In the original charter of 1664, Cochecton marked the border between New York and New Jersey. Along the Delaware River, a spot was marked named "station rock." This point formed the meeting point of the borders between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After a long dispute- the New York-New Jersey Line War - the final border was set further south,near Port Jervis.

The town was formed from the Town of Bethel in 1828, and reduced by the creation of the Town of Delaware in 1869.

The town once had a station on the Binghamton branch ofthe Erie-Lackawanna Railway, but passenger service on this branch ceased in 1971. The branch has since been taken over by Conrail, and subsequently by CSX. The Cochecton train station is the oldest surviving station in New York State.Moved from its original site in the early 1990s, a local group of people banded together to save the station from destruction. A local business Cochecton Mills, owned by the Nearing family, gave the group, called the "Cochecton Preservation Society", one year to dismantle the ancient building and get it off their property. In that time the station was carefully and successfully moved roughly one mile upstream to a spot on state Route 97, still resting along the former Erie tracks. More recently, various proposals were made to restore service on the line, but none have yet been adopted.

The correct pronunciation of the town's name is"cuh-SHEK-ton," leading many to mistakenly believe the name is of French origin; the name is, however, more likely derived from the Lenni Lenapeword ksch-itchuan, meaning "foaming water." A conflicting, and probably outdated, interpretation appears in the writings of James Burbank, a local historian who wrote in the 1950s that the word "Cushektunk"meant "low land" and "land of red rock" indicating the abundance of red mudstone throughout the area.

The Drake-Curtis House, Ellery Calkins House, Cochecton Presbyterian Church, Cochecton Railroad Station, Reilly's Store, Parsonage Road Historic District, Page House, Old Cochecton Cemetery, and Valleau Tavern are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cochecton is said to be the home of Tammany, a Native American sage of the Lenape who became an American symbol and a fixture in popular culture during and after the Revolutionary War.

Geography

The west town line is the border of Pennsylvania, in the middle of the Delaware River. It is connected to Damascus Township in that state's Wayne County by the Cochecton–Damascus Bridge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.4 square miles, of which, 36.7 square miles is land and 0.7 square miles is water surface.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,328 people, 555 households, and 376 families residing in the town. The population density was 36.2 people per square mile. There were 955 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 0.90% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.60%Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.

There were 555 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

The population includes 22.5%under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years.For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $46,875.Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $24,844 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,841. About 5.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. The peak population, reached during the 19th century, was about 3,000.

Communities and locations in Cochecton

Cochecton (formerly Cushetunk)– The hamlet of Cochecton is on state Route 97 by the Delaware River.

Cochecton Center (formerly Stephensburgh)– A hamlet south of Lake Huntington on Route 52. The former Cochecton Center Methodist Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

East Cochecton – A hamlet between Cochecton and Fosterdale.

Fosterdale – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town at routes 17B and 52.

Lake Huntington – A hamlet south of Fosterdale on state Route 52. The Jewish Center of Lake Huntington was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Nobody Station – A location in the southwest part of the town.

Skinners Falls – A location bythe Delaware River, south of Cochecton village.

Tylertown – A location in the southeast part of the town.

The Town of Delaware is in the western part of the county. The Town of Delaware was formed in 1869 by subdivision from the Town of Cochecton.

Geography

The west town line, delineated by the Delaware River, is the border of Wayne County, Pennsylvania.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.3 square miles (91 km²), of which, 34.7 square miles (90 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,719 people, 956 households, and 657 families residing in the town. The population density was 78.3 people per square mile (30.2/km²). There were 1,337 housing units at an average density of 38.5 per square mile (14.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.31% White, 9.71% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.33% of the population.

There were 956 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,145, and the median income for a family was $45,875. Males had a median income of $37,700 versus $22,885 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,884. About 6.2% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Locations in the town

Callicoon (formerly Callicoon Depot) – A hamlet by the west town line. The community bears a name akin to the Town of Callicoon in the county.

Falls Mills – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.

Hortonville – A hamlet east of Callicoon. The German Presbyterian Church and Hortonville Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Kenoza Lake – A hamlet, formerly called Pike Pond, in the southeast part of the town. The Stone Arch Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Kohlertown – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.

Swiss Hill – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.

Lower Beechwood – A hamlet south of Upper Beechwood in the southeast part of the town.

Upper Beechwood – A hamlet in the north central part of the town.

History

The town was formed from parts of the Towns of Mamakating and Thompson in 1837. Forestburgh's main industries in its early years were tanning, quarrying and lumbering. The mountains on either side of Bushkill Creek contained quarries of flagging, curbing and building stone (also known as bluestone). The largest of these was Paradise Quarry in Oakland Valley. Stone from this quarry was used to construct the Episcopal Church in Monticello. Many of the old sidewalks in New York City were said to have come from this area. The largest tannery was at Gilman's Station, which was later renamed St. Joseph's Station. According to French's Gazette, published in 1858, there were thirty-nine tanneries within the township, producing 100,000 sides of leather annually.

The opening of the Monticello and Port Jervis Railroad in the 1870s stimulated the lumbering, tanning and quarrying industries. The railroad entered Forestburgh at the Town's northern border and extended through it in a southernly direction along the Bushkill Creek Valley. In addition to assisting the Town's industrial base, the railroad also brought summer residents from New York City. The population of the Town in 1870 was 916, greater than the present-day population of 833.

The quarrying industry began to decline in the late 1890s with the invention of concrete. The oak and hemlock bark used in tanning became scarce, signaling the end of the tanning industry. It was at this point, however, that the resort industry began to flourish in Forestburgh. Many homes in Oakland Valley began operating as boarding houses during the summer months when city residents came north on the train from New York. The Hartwood Club and Merriewold Park were born, and the Convent of St. Joseph's was established, along with summer camps for boys and girls and a Catholic boarding school.

By the mid-twentieth century the automobile caused the railroad to cease operation in Forestburgh. This substantially reduced the number of tourists who came to the town by train. Forestburgh slowly evolved into a rural-residential town, with many people commuting to jobs in nearby towns.

The Forestburgh Town Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Geography

Part of the south town line is the border of Orange County, New York. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.8 square miles (147 km2), of which, 55.2 square miles (143 km2) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) of it (2.83%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 833 people, 327 households, and 222 families residing in the town. The population density was 15.1 people per square mile (5.8/km²). There were 500 housing units at an average density of 9.1 per square mile (3.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.68% White, 2.04% African American, 1.68% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% of the population.

There were 327 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,125, and the median income for a family was $60,139. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $35,347 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,864. About 4.1% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Locations in the town;

Hamlets:

Forestburg – The hamlet of Forestburgh at Routes 42 and 48, east of Forestburgh Pond.

Fowlerville – A hamlet northwest of Forestburgh village, located on route 44.

Hartwood – A hamlet east of Forestburgh village on Route 48.

Hartwood Club – A hamlet by the south town line.

Merriewold Park – A hamlet northeast of Forestburgh village.

Philwold – German for "Phil's Woods" named by Philip Wechsler in 1939 to refer to the area around the 5 homes built by architect Eugene Schoen as a Usonian community for the Weschsler family in 1939.[8]

St. Josephs – A hamlet north of Forestburgh village by "St. Josephs Lake."

Squirrels Corner – A hamlet north of Forestburgh on Route 45.

Other locations:

Forestburg Scout Reservation

The Forestburg Scout Reservation lies completely within the borders of the Town. Owned and operated by the Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America (based in Morganville, NJ), FSR is a year-round reservation featuring two distinct but connected camps, the J. Fred Billett Camp and the Dan Beard Camp. The three most notable features of the reservation are Burnt Hope Lake, Tecumseh Rock and Darlington Falls. FSR is a sister camp to the Quail Hill Scout Reservation, located in Manalapan, NJ.

Neversink River Unique Area

The State of New York owns an extensive amount of land in Forestburgh that is under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Foremost of this is the 4,881-acre (19.75 km2) Neversink River Unique Area, sometimes called the Neversink Gorge.

The Neversink River has been recognized by The Nature Conservancy as one of “75 Last Great Places” based on its superior water quality and ability to support rare and pollution-sensitive species of mussels, which occur in the Neversink River approximately 6.5 miles (10.5 km) below the Unique Area. The portion of the Neversink River flowing through Forestburgh has long been recognized as having an excellent trout fishery.

Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area

New York State also owns a considerable amount of land that straddles the Mongaup River in the Town of Forestburgh and the neighboring Towns of Lumberland (Sullivan County) and Deerpark (Orange County) and owns conservation easements (from Orange and Rockland Utilities and Clove Development Corp.) for many more acres, thus prohibiting future development. Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. and/or its parent company Mirant Corp. own 764 acres (3.09 km2) of land in Forestburgh along the Mongaup River.

There are public access opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and boating. Eagle watching is extremely popular here in the winter, when bald eagles are numerous.

Pike County is statistically included in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Area.

History

Pike County was named for General Zebulon Pike. It was created on March 26, 1814 as subdivision of westerly Wayne County. Some English settlement in the area had started during the colonial period.

The longtime original inhabitants were the Lenape Native Americans, known by the English colonists as the Delaware Indians because their territory was along the Delaware River (as named by the colonists), as well as the coastal mid-Atlantic area. In 1696, Governor Benjamin Fletcher of the colony of New York authorized purchases of Indian land near the New York border by a number of citizens of Ulster County; their descendants became the first European settlers of what became Pike County.

Nicholas Depui was the first to settle in the area, in 1725. Thomas Quick moved to the area that would become Milford in 1733. Andrew Dingman settled on the DelawareRiver at the future site of Dingmans Ferry in 1735. The early settlers got along well with the Lenape and traded with them. As settlement increased and their land practices encroached on Lenape uses, land disputes arose. The colonists' infamous Walking Purchase of 1737 swindled the Indians out of more than half of present-day Pike County. As they realized what had happened,violent conflicts arose between the Lenape and the colonists.

 Early in the nineteenth century, coal was discovered nearby in the area that would become Carbondale. To get the coal to New York, developers proposed a gravity railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale,along with a canal from Honesdale to the Hudson River at Kingston.

The state of New York approved the canal proposal in 1823. Work on the 108-mile Delaware and Hudson Canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1828. The canal system which terminated at the Hudson River near present-day Kingston, proved profitable. But, the barges had to cross the Delaware via a rope ferry across a"slackwater dam," which created bottlenecks in the canal traffic and added greatly to the cost of transportation.

John Roebling proposed continuing the canal over the river as part of an aqueduct.Built in 1848, his innovative cable suspension design required only three piers, where five would ordinarily have been required; this allowed ice flows and timber rafts to pass under with less damage to the bridge. Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct is still standing, recognized as the oldest suspension bridge in the world. Restored by the National Park Service, it is a National Historic Landmark. The New York and Erie Railroad supplanted the canal and in 1898 the water route was abandoned.

His estate,Grey Towers in Milford was the home of future PA Governor Gifford Pinchot. A close friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, Pinchot would become the first director of US Forest Service. From 1904 to 1926, Grey Towers was the site of summer field study sessions for the Master's program of the Yale School of Forestry together with the Foresters Hall, a commercial building that was adapted and expanded for this purpose. Roosevelt visited at Grey Towers as did President John F. Kennedy in 1961

In 1926, the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company built a hydroelectric plant on Wallenpaupack Creek at the former village of Wilsonville. The town was evacuated and now lies under Lake Wallenpaupack, created by the resulting dam. A crew of 2,700 men worked for two years to complete the dam for the project at a cost of $1,026,000. This required the acquisition of nearly a hundred properties, and a number of farms, barns, and homes were razed or moved. In addition, 17 miles(27 km) of roads and telephone lines were relocated, and a cemetery was moved to make way for the project.

Since the late 20th century, Pike County has been the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania;between 1990 and 2000, its population increased by 65.2%, and it grew an additional 16.9% between 2000 and 2004. The area has relatively low state and county taxes, affordable housing, and Interstate 80 and Interstate 84 provide rapid commutes to New York City's northern suburbs.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles, of which 545 square miles is land and 22 square miles (3.9%) is water surface

The terrain rises rapidly from the river valley in the east to the rolling foothills of the Poconos in the west. The highest point is one of two unnamed hills in GreeneTownship that top out at approximately 2,110 feet (643 m) above sea level.[6]The lowest elevation is approximately 340 feet (103.6 m), at the confluence of the Bushkill and the Delaware rivers.

Population

As of the 2010 census, there were 57,369 people residing in the county. The county was 88.6%Non-Hispanic White, 6.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2%Asian, and 1.7% were two or more races. 10.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

As of the census of 2000, there were 46,302 people, 17,433 households, and 13,022 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile. There were 34,681 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93.10% White, 3.27% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander,1.30% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 5.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.9% were of German, 18.6%Irish, 18.5% Italian, 6.2% English and 5.3% Polish ancestry.

There were 17,433 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.

The population includes 26.70% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.10%from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

Pike County has the largest percentage of same-sex couples in Pennsylvania.

Schools

Delaware Valley School District

East Stroudsburg Area School District (also in Monroe County)

Wallenpaupack Area School District (also Wayne County)

Communities

Boroughs

Matamoras, Milford(county seat)

Townships

Blooming Grove,Delaware, Dingman, Greene, Lackawaxen, Lehman, Milford, Palmyra, Porter, Shoholaand Westfall

Census-designated places

Birchwood Lakes,Conashaugh Lakes, Fawn Lake Forest, Gold Key Lake, Hemlock Farms, Masthope, PineRidge, Pocono Mountain Lake Estates, Pocono Ranch Lands, Pocono Woodland Lakes,Saw Creek, and Sunrise Lake

Other notables associated with PikeCounty

Vanessa Carlton- (born 1980) singer/songwriter

Zane Grey -(1872-1939) author of western stories and novels including Riders of the Purple Sage

Louis Allen, a New York Army National Guard officer killed in a fragging incident in 2005 during the Iraq War.

Science fiction writers: James Blish, Damon Knight, Judith Merril and Kate Wilhelm (Mrs.Knight)  

Allyn Joslyn,stage and screen actor

Frank McCourt,author

Charles Sanders Peirce, a philosopher and polymath, lived on a farm near Milford, from 1887 until his 1914 death.

Mary Pickford, silent film actress

Al Pitrelli,guitarist

Tom Quick, notorious early settler

MarieZimmermann designer and maker of jewelry and metalwork

Smoky Joe Wood,Pike native and baseball pitcher.

Robert Litzenberger, professor emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

History

European-American settlers in 1798 adopted the Lenape nameLackawaxen, meaning "swift waters," after the river that flows twelvemiles through the township.

Bands of both Algonquian-speaking Lenape andIroquoian-speaking Seneca lived in the area through the early 19th century.Neither tribe had any substantial villages in the area, and they used the landas hunting grounds. Their tools, pot shards and bone fragments have been foundat Native American rock shelters and camp sites.

In 1770, Jonathan Conkling and John Barnes became the firstpermanent European settlers to build in the area.

 At the 1779 Battle ofMinisink at nearby Minisink Ford, NY, 48 European colonial militia were killedin an engagement with a band of Mohawks and tory loyalists led by Joseph Brant,a Mohawk who commanded forces for the British. A county park today marks thebattle site.

During the early part of the 19th century, logging was theprincipal commercial activity in the area. It produced as much as 50 millionboard feet (120,000 m³) of lumber annually. Workers floated logs downriver onthe Delaware to markets in Easton or Trenton.

In 1829, the Delaware and Hudson Canal began operatingbetween Honesdale, Pennsylvania and Kingston, New York. In its time, the canalcompany was the largest private commercial enterprise in the nation. It built28 locks in Lackawaxen Township alone, raising the elevation of the canal 278feet

John A. Roebling, famed engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge,built the Delaware Aqueduct, as part of the canal in 1848. It is the world’soldest surviving wire-cable suspension bridge and is now preserved by theNational Park Service (NPS) as a National Civil Engineering Landmark andNational Historic Landmark.

Later in 19^th Century, the Erie Railroad broughttourism to the area and new sources of revenue; the rugged countryside of theupper Delaware Valley became a popular destination for urban tourists.

Bluestone quarrying became a major enterprise in themid-19th century. The distinctive shale was used extensively in theconstruction of the region's buildings and still remains in many sidewalks.

From 1905 to 1918, famed western author Zane Grey lived inLackawaxen with his wife and growing family. His early stories related hisexperiences of fishing along the upper Delaware. Listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places, the Greys' home from 1914 to 1918 is preserved bythe NPS. Grey is buried in nearby Union Cemetery.

Geography

According to the US Census, the township has a total area of81.2 square miles of which, 78.4 square miles of it is land and 2.8 squaremiles are water surface. A scenic area within the Upper Delaware River NationalPark, Lackawaxen is located about a two-hour drive from New York City. It isalso located about twenty-two miles north-west of Milford, the county seat ofPike County.

Population

In 2010, the Census reported 2,099 households, and 1,453families residing in the township. The population density was 63.7 people persquare mile. There were 4,580 housing units at an average density of 58.4 persq mi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.2% White, 2.7% African American,0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races,and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% ofthe population.

There were 2,099 households out of which 22.1% had childrenunder the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples livingtogether, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% werenon-families. 26% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% hadsomeone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average householdsize was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.85.

The population included 19.1% under the age of 18, 58.5%from 18 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older; and the median agewas 48.8 years.

The median income for a household in the township was$38,090, and the median income for a family was $46,856. Males had a medianincome of $35,758 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income for thetownship was $19,119. About 7.4% of families and 9.7% of the population werebelow the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of thoseage 65 or over.

History

The Village of Shohola was settled in 1772. The 45 square mile township, extending from the Delaware River to Route 6 was formed on September 26, 1852.
While there were only a few farms in the area at first, growth began with the coming of the Erie Railroad in 1848. Seven years later, a bridge was built, replacing the ferry which connected Shohola with Barryville and the Delaware and Hudson Canal.
Boarding houses, which where once a rather large industry in Shohola, where replaced by vacation houses and these are being replaced by permanent residences.

The seal of Shohola township consists of a map of the Township with the four main bodies of water – Walker Lake, Twin Lakes, Delaware River and Shohola Creek, and the four state roads that lead into the township – Twin Lakes Road, Lackawaxen Road, Shohola Road (Route 434) and GAR Highway (Route 6). The two stars represent peace and tranquility, translations of the word SHOHOLA, as the Native Americans originally applied it to the peaceful, tranquil Shohola Creek. The Date 1852 was the date that the Township was legally formed.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there are 2,088 people, 836 households, and 585 families residing in the township. The population density is 46.8 people per square mile (18.1/km²). There are 3,089 housing units at an average density of 69.2/sq mi (26.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township is 97.99% White, 0.14% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 3.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 836 households out of which 30.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% are married couples living together, 6.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% are non-families. 26.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the township the population is spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $41,593, and the median income for a family is $46,207. Males have a median income of $38,080 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the township is $20,840. 6.2% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Recreation

Approximately one-third of Shohola is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with the Township containing a portion of the Delaware State Forest and sections of three state gamelands. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 45.9 square miles (118.8 km²), of which, 44.6 square miles (115.6 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it (2.70%) is water.

Shohola Falls Recreation Area
Just off of Rt 6 in Shohola, is Shohola Falls.[2] The falls are a multi-tier level of falls flowing from Shohola Creek and continuing down the river.[3] An 8.2-mile loop hiking trail is provided for visitors.[4]

Notable residents

‘Smoky’ Joe Wood, Boston Red Sox baseball pitcher.

History

Wayne was named for Anthony Wayne, a Major-General in the Revolutionary War. The courts for the new county were temporarily established in Milford, which would later become the county seat of Pike County.
 In 1799 the court was moved to Wilsonville (Lake Wallenpaupack area) and back to Milford in 1802. Bethany became and remained the county seat from 1814-1841.
The opening of the Delaware & Hudson Canal in 1829 and pressure from the lower end of the County finally in 1814 caused the Legislature to set off the section as a new County to be called Pike, with the seat of Justice at Milford.  In May 1841, the County Commissioners fixed Honesdale as the new county seat and Bethany lost that distinction.  

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wayne County has a total area of 751 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 726 square miles (1,880 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (3.3%) is water.

The terrain of the county is varied. In the wide rnorthern half, the land is rugged along its border with New York State, while the southern portion tends to be swampier. Higher hills and mountains are predominantly found along the county's western edge, while lower ones are more common in the east, near the Delaware River. The middle section of Wayne County is a wide plain.

The highest elevation in the county, 2,659 ft (810 m),is the summit of Mount Ararat in Orson. Two other summits at the north end of the same ridge also exceed 2,640 ft (800 m) in elevation. The county's lowest point, at approximately 680 ft (210 m) above sea level, is along the Delaware,near Wayne County's border with Pike County, Pennsylvania.

Most of Wayne County is drained by the Delaware (which separates Pennsylvania from New York), with the exception of a few small areas in the western part of the county, which are drained by either the Starrucca Creek or the Lackawanna River (which both eventually flow into the Susquehanna River).

Demographics

Wayne County, PA is home to a population of 51,307 people, from which 99% are citizens. The ethnic composition of the population of Wayne County, PA is composed of 46,713 White residents (91%), 2,080 Hispanic residents(4.05%), 1,654 Black residents (3.22%), 466 Two+ residents (0.91%), and 286 Asian residents(0.56%).

Schools

Public school students in Wayne County are served by six school districts which include Wayne Highlands, Western Wayne,Wallenpaupack Area, Forest City Regional, Susquehanna Community and North Pocono. 

Economy

The economy of Wayne County, PA employs 20,940 people.The county’s economy is specialized in Construction; Agriculture, Forestry,Fishing, Hunting; and Utilities, which employ respectively 1.62; 1.44; and 1.29 times more people than what would be expected in a location of this size.

History

 The borough owes its name to former New York City Mayor Phillip Hone, who was influential in the creation of the D & H Canal. In 1829 it became the westerly starting point of the 108-mile-long canal, which provided water transport for coal shipped to Honesdale on a gravity railroad from southerly Lackawanna County’s mountains. The canal ran to Kingston, New York, where it was trans-shipped and sent down the Hudson River to New York City. In the mid-19th century the expansion of railroads reduced the canal’s use and led to its abandonment in 1898.  

Honesdale is the location where the first commercial steam locomotive ran on rails in the United States. Imported by the D&H Company from England, the “Stourbridge Lion” on August 8, 1829, ran three miles on a hastily constructed rail bed to Seelyville, and returned. Considered impractical for hauling coal from the mines, the Stourbridge Lion never ran again. A combination of stationary steam engines and gravity powered the movement of coal to Honesdale from Carbondale’s mines.

The Stourbridge Lion was sold for scrap, but some of its parts are on display at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Honesdale’s Residential Historic District and the D & H Canal are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wayne County Historical Society Museum, located in the former D&H Canal Co. office Honesdale exhibits a full-scale replica of the Stourbridge Lion. A majority of the canal route was incorporated into the subsequent highway system, but many portions in both NY and PA survive for visitors to see.

Geography

Honesdale is located at Global coordinates: 41°34′27″N 75°15′21″W. The borough has a total area of 4.0 square miles which, is divided by the Lackawaxen River and Dyberry Creek.  The waters contain fish and other aquatic life and attract hundreds of ducks, as well as eagles and other raptors.

Demographics

The 2010 Census lists 2,086 households, and 1,147 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,148.7 people per square mile. There were 2,357 housing units at an average density of 604.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.8% White, 0.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population. The median income for a household in the borough was $32,644, and the median income for a family was $42,088.

Community Services

The hospital serving Honesdale and the surrounding communities is Wayne Memorial Hospital. It is a successful and progressive nonprofit community hospital of 112 beds and does approximately 75 million dollars of net revenue of business annually. The Hospital offers a wide array of advanced health services and is clinically affiliated with the Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers and The Commonwealth Medical College.

Honesdale High School is part of the Wayne Highlands School District. The school's sports teams are called the Hornets. The high school is located on the top of Terrace Street and overlooks the town. The district has an enrollment of 2,756. Wayne Highlands schools in Honesdale also include the Stourbridge Primary School, Lakeside Elementary and Wayne Highlands Middle School. The website k12.niche.com ranked Wayne Highlands as the 105^th best of 497 PA districts surveyed in 2017.